editorial zig-zag — 007 james bond series — issues #1-20

Risico

Originally published in 007 James Bond #1 as “Operacion Riesgo” and based upon the short story Risico by Ian Fleming

Writer: German Gabler

Artist: Hernan Jiron (opening splash page by German Gabler)

Translator: Clinton Rawls

Notes: Based upon the short story of the same name from Ian Fleming’s For Your Eyes Only, Risico is in many ways an inspired choice for the first issue of a new series. Firstly, the story is self-contained with a healthy amount of action, romance, and intrigue. Secondly, the plot centers around a grounded, down-to-earth tale of drug smuggling, providing a counterbalance to the more fantastic film series. Finally, EON had not yet adapted this particular story, and would not until the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only in a remarkably faithful adaptation, so film viewers looking for more Bond adventures may not have been familiar with this story.

One element of the EON films that writer German Gabler appropriates right off the bat is the notion of a pre-title sequence, something which he would continue throughout the series.

The Hildebrand Rarity

Originally published in 007 James Bond #2 as “La Rareza de Hildebrand” and based upon the short story The Hildebrand Rarity by Ian Fleming

Writer: German Gabler

Artist: Hernan Jiron (opening splash page by German Gabler)

Translator: Clinton Rawls

Notes: Gabler and Jiron once again adapt an Ian Fleming short story, and one of the more atypical ones at that. Although some plot elements found their way into the 1989 film Licence to Kill (the name Milton Krest and his yacht Wavekrest, along with the stingray tail whip being used on a kept woman), The Hildebrand Rarity has never truly been adapted into a film and to do so would prove a genuine challenge given that an accurate adaptation would have more in common with Roman Polanski’s Knife In the Water (1962) rather than a typical Bond film. Thankfully, Gabler and Jiron once again create a faithful adaptation though given the introspective nature of the original, I find myself missing Fleming’s prose more than usual with this one.

For Your Eyes Only

Originally published in 007 James Bond #3 as “Solo Para Tus Ojos” and based upon the short story For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming

Writer: German Gabler

Artist: Hernan Jiron

Translator: Clinton Rawls

Notes: Gabler and Jiron mine the Fleming well once more for a faithful adaptation of the short story For Your Eyes Only, from the collection of the same name. Although the plot of Fleming’s original is closely adhered to, writer German Gabler tones down M’s personal struggle after the murder of the Havelock’s and the careful dance of words that he and Bond engage in during the mission briefing, one of the highlights of the original text. More interestingly, Gabler and Jiron display a rather pointed antipathy toward British colonialism, a view that Ian Fleming most certainly did not share.

Artistic Licence: In the course of events, a character is wounded but the original colorist seems to have not noticed this small detail. I’ve taken the liberty of recoloring the offending panel to add further clarity to the story.

Deadly Gold (Casino Royale Prelude)

Originally published in 007 James Bond #4 as “Oro Mortal” and inspired by the novel Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Writer: Uncredited, though possibly German Gabler

Artist: Hernan Jiron

Translator: Clinton Rawls

Notes: Zig-Zag take a bold, new step in their 007 series by using Fleming’s work as a springboard to create their own original tales. It would be a few more issues before Zig-Zag published a direct adaptation of Casino Royale, but this prequel story helps set the stage nicely and builds some anticipation for an eventual showdown between Bond and Le Chiffre.

In addition to taking liberties with the source text, Zig-Zag also drew inspiration from the 007 films as evidenced by the inclusion of a certain iconic gadget in this story, and by modeling Le Chiffre after Orson Welles from the 1967 Casino Royale parody film!

Gold for Le Chiffre

Originally published in 007 James Bond #4 as “Oro para Le Chiffre”

Writer: German Gabler

Artist: Hernan Jiron

Translator: Clinton Rawls

Notes: German Gabler once again uses Fleming’s work as a springboard to spin a larger tale. Although he doesn’t make an appearance outside of a few brief mentions, Le Chiffre’s inner circle is greatly expanded and Gabler slowly lays more groundwork for an eventual proper adaptation of Casino Royale in issue #8. It’s an interesting idea, making Le Chiffre less of an underling in over his head and more of a mastermind with power and influence of his own.